Allies not identical twins

American interests and Israeli interests are not identical. This needs to be the starting point for any discussion of American policy towards the Middle East, and Palestine more specifically. This isn’t to say that the 1967 borders are the final answer. It isn’t to say that Israel isn’t an important ally. It isn’t saying anything more than what it says. What is good for Israel is not necessarily going to be good for the United States. We need to consider factors like the interests of other allies in the region, the progress of the so-called “Arab spring,” the perception of America in the Muslim world (which includes but is not limited to the Middle East), energy needs, the structural origins of terrorism, international human rights, and our long-term military strategy. Simply considering Israeli interests will never be enough.